Colorado blue spruce tree named ‘Hymes Blue Dream’

Abstract

A new cultivar of Colorado blue spruce tree named Hymes Blue Dream characterized by its foliage that is very intensely blue in color in appearance during the summer months and blue grey in color in the winter months, its foliage with a very glaucous surface, its dense and compact plant habit, and its short height; obtaining a height of 6 m in 20 years when grown in Oregon.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Colorado Blue Spruce tree named Hymes Blue Dream as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Picea. The photographs were taken of 21-year-old trees as grown in the ground in Forest Grove, Oregon.

(2) FIG. 1 provides an overall view of the plant habit of several trees of Hymes Blue Dream.

(3) FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the foliage of Hymes Blue Dream in summer.

(4) The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Picea.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(5) The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as taken from 2-year-old trees grown in 1-gallon nursery containers in Forest Grove, Oregon. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. General description: Plant type.Coniferous evergreen. Growth habit.Dense, conical, short, compact. Height and spread.An average of 44 cm in height and 29 cm in width as grown in a one-gallon container, reaches 4.6 m in height and 3.7 m in spread as a 10-year-old plant in the landscape, reaches 6.1 m in height in 20 years in the landscape. Cold hardiness.At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 3. Diseases and pests.No susceptibility or resistance to pests or diseases has been observed. Root description.Fibrous, moderately branched, moderately thick, a blend of N199B and N199C in color. Growth rate.Moderate. Propagation.Grafting. Root development.Grafted in late winter with final scion successfully grafted in approximately 20 weeks, time required to produce a young tree; 12 months. Branch description: Trunk and branch shape.Rounded. Branch size.Main trunk; 17 cm in length, 2 cm in diameter, lateral branches; average of 14 cm in length, up to 3 cm in width, tertiary branches; up to 3 cm in length, 2 mm in width. Stem surface.Young stems; smooth, matte, linear streaks cover the surface, mature and old wood; rugose, bark-like and matte. Branching.Average of 11 lateral branches, 2 tertiary branches per lateral, strong central leader. Stem arrangement.Lateral branches; whorled to opposite, tertiary branches; opposite. Stem aspect.Strong, main stem vertical, lateral and tertiary stems held in a slightly upright angle. Internode length.Average of 1 to 3 cm. Stem color.Young stems; striations of 174A and 164B, mature stems; close to 161A, but lighter, old wood; blend of 164B, 165A and 165C. Resin glands.None observed. Foliage description: Leaf arrangement.Densely whorled needles. Leaf attachment.Sessile. Leaf shape.Acicular, needle shaped. Leaf division.Simple. Leaf base.Cuneate. Leaf apex.Sharp and pointed, linear. Leaf venation.Not visible. Leaf margins.Entire. Leaf fragrance.When crushed, it produces a pine-like fragrance. Leaf surface.Upper surface; matte, lower surface; glossy, both surfaces highly glaucous. Leaf color.Emerging 138C, summer with sun exposure N138B with heavy glaucous coating of N155A, shaded and winter 139A with glaucous coating of 190D. Leaf texture.Dense, stiff and strong. Leaf aspect.Vertical to slightly bowed to branch. Leaf size.An average of 1.5 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter. Leaf quantity.Average of 200 per branch 14 cm in length. Leaf buds.5 mm in length and 2 mm in width, a blend of 166B and 165C in color, comprised of imbricate scales orbicular and cupped in shape and average of 2 mm in length and width. Cone description: Cones have not been observed to date.